Archaeological Tour in Albania- 5 days

– Meet at airport and transfer to the hotel. We visit the Ethem Bey Mosque, clock tower, Scanderbeg Square, Orthodox Church, National Historic Museum.

-Overnight in Tirana.

After breakfast we travel to Byllis Archaeological Park . Bylisi is one of the most important archaeological centers of Albania, listed for monumental values. Bylisi has been the largest Illyrian city in South Illyrian .

His name is mentioned relatively recently by the chronicles of the time, beginning in the form of Bulis in the events of the years 49-48 AD, when it was delivered to Caesar and served as a basis for the supply of his army. According to Stefan Bizantini, the mythological founder of Bylisit is Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, as well as their neighbors Amantini had their origin from Abante Eubeas that came after the Trojan war.

After lunch next destination is Gjirokastra .In Gjirokastra, the “city of stones” with its tradition. Albanian architecture, city tour with the mighty castle, the historical and the ethnographic museum. Here were born the two most famous Albanians, Enver Hoxha and Ismail Kadare. Family run hotel in the old town. Dinner in the restaurant.

– Overnight in Gjirokastra

After Breakfast travel to Antigonea Archaeological Park. Antigonea was founded by Pirro, the king of Molossi, in 295 BC. Molos were one of the three tribes of Epirus (south of present-day Albania and northern Greece), which turned into a strong state during this period.

Antigonea developed as an important economic, social, cultural and political center, and at the end of the 3rd century and at the beginning of the 2nd century BC it became a “polis” (city-state) and returned to one of the most important places of antiquity.
Continue to Monastery of 40 Saints . It is located to the east of Saranda, in its dominant part, with dimensions 37.4 x24 m that ends on the east side with a semi-circular apse.

The church consists of Naos and narthex, the narthex being slightly longer than the width of the church. Naosi has longer sides north and south. The church belongs to the XV century, but it has been reconstructed, continuing to be used for a long time, the results of the in-habitation of the area by the same population. Recently, some people have argued that the church was built (mostly underground works) before the spread of Christianity.

Next stop is at Phoenice Archaeological Park. It was the capital of the Kaonas, while in the 3rd century it became the capital of the entire state of Epirus. According to Polibit, it has been the fortified city of Epirus. There are three wall sections preserved on the hill: the walls of the acropolis, the walls of the period of expansion of the acropolis and the walls of the fortified city. These walls, which are distinguished for their great volume, date back to the nineteenth century. IV and II BC .

A small treasure was discovered in the acropolis, which in the Byzantine period became a baptistery. Also, a theater of great capacity was discovered. There are also three cisterns belonging to the period between the 20th century. V and III BC and some ruins of buildings .

Overnight in Saranda .

Today we drive to Butrint . Visit of the Roman-Byzantine ruins (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the museum. It constitutes a very rare combination of archaeology and nature.

The property is a microcosm of Mediterranean history, with occupation dating from 50 000 BC, at its earliest evidence, up to the 19th century AD. Prehistoric sites have been identified within the nucleus of Butrint, the small hill surrounded by the waters of Lake Butrint and Vivari Channel, as well as in its wider territory. From 800 BC until the arrival of the Romans, Butrint was influenced by Greek culture, bearing elements of a “polis” and being settled by Chaonian tribes.

In 44 BC Butrint became a Roman colony and expanded considerably on reclaimed marshland, primarily to the south across the Vivari Channel, where an aqueduct was built. In the 5th century AD Butrint became an Episcopal centre; it was fortified and substantial early Christian structures were built. After a period of abandonment, Butrint was reconstructed under Byzantine control in the 9th century. Butrint and its territory came under Angevin and then Venetian control in the 14th century.

Several attacks by despots of Epirus and then later by Ottomans led to the strengthening and extension of the defensive works of Butrint. At the beginning of the 19th century, a new fortress was added to the defensive system of Butrint at the mouth of the Vivari Channel. It was built by Ali Pasha, an Albanian Ottoman ruler who controlled Butrint and the area until its final abandonment.

– Overnight in Vlora.

After breakfast we continue to Apollonia Archaeological Park .Apollonia as a city was founded at the beginning of the seventh century BC in the lands of Illyrian Taulants by Greek colonizers coming from Corinth.

The first records of their presence are documented around 620 BC. The city was named in honor of god Apollo. Of the 24 Mediterranean cities around the world that held this name in the Antiquity, Apollonia of Illyria was the most important and played a major role as a trade mediator between the Hellenists and the Illyrians. Apollonia was at that time a major important city near the Aoos River (Vjosa). It is estimated that the city had about 60,000 inhabitants, a record figure for Antiquity!

Apollonia preserved its grandeur even in the Roman period. The apolloniate art of beauty was renowned throughout the ancient world. At a time when his nephew, Oktavian Augustus, was taught in Rome, during a Senate plot, Jules Caesar, studying the oratory in Apollo.

After lunch in Restaurant by the sea depart to Durres Amphitheatre. The amphitheatre was built in the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The amphitheatre was used for performances until the 4th century AD. The earthquake of 345/346 likely damaged the monument and closed the ‘ludii gladiatorii’. An early Christian chapel was constructed on the amphitheatre in the second half of the 4th century.

The chapel was initially decorated with frescoes; in the 6th century, mosaics were added. A medieval chapel was built in the 13th century, also decorated with frescoes. The amphitheatre was covered over in the 16th century, after the Ottoman occupation, when the wall was built nearby. Marin Barleti described the monument as ‘well constructed’. The amphitheatre is included on the tentative list of Albania for inscribing it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

– Overnight in Tirana .

= End of our service !